William S. Gilbert (1844-1901)

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William Schwenk Gilbert (1836-1911) was born in London, the son of a retired naval surgeon. Much of his youth was spent touring Europe with his family before settling down to an education at Great Ealing School. He was interested in the theatre from an early age, and forwent the possibility of going to Oxford in order to enlist and fight in the Crimean War. For a number of years he attempted careers in the law and civil service, but all the while putting on plays. His first professionally performed one being in 1863, Uncle Baby, at the Royal Lyceum in London. He married in 1867. In 1870 he met A. Sullivan, and they soon produced the light opera Thespis (1871), which was followed by Trial by Jury (1875) and four productions staged by Richard D'Oyly Carte (1844-1901): The Sorcerer (1877), H.M.S. Pinafore (1878), The Pirates of Penzance (1879), and Patience (1881). Plus, the Mikado and others which are his lasting legacy as 'Gilbert and Sullivan'. His lyrics include some of the finest comic verse ever written in English.
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